Midterms - Ethics

Nagdadahilian, nangangatwiran, nagrarason. Nag-iisip, nagpapakatao. Human Being = Thinking Being.

Pilosopo

Love of wisdom.

Philosophy

Lover of wisdom.

Philosopher

Making love with wisdom.

Philosophizing

How can philosophy help us?

Philosophy trains our mind to think in multitude ways.

The analysis of facts, with certain levels of rigor and problem-solving abilities, to form a judgment. Refers to the ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment. It involves the evaluation of sources, such as data, facts, observable phenomena, and research findings.

Critical Thinking

What the mind conceives, the body achieves. You attract what we think. A positive attitude will get you positive results.

Positive Thinking / Mindset

A phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The ability to make or otherwise bring into existence something new, whether a new solution to a problem, a new method or device, or a new artistic object or form. An act of creativity can be grand and inspiring, such as creating a beautiful painting or designing an innovative new product.

Creativity

Studying Philosophy Helps Us Develop:

• Critical Thinking

• Positive Thinking / Mindset

• Creativity

It’s a systematized body of knowledge.

Philosophy is a Science

Deals with everything under the sun (including the sun).

Philosophy is a of all things

How it exists and why it exists.

Philosophy is a by their ultimate causes

As conceived, interpreted, concluded, deducted by our human intellectual faculty - our mind.

Philosophy is a in the light of human reason alone

An unblemished state of life where people share a common goal.

Utopia

Attitude, Intelligence, Humor, Sensible, Responsible, Ambitions, Confidence, Boldness.

Beautiful? - Non-Physical Features

Complexion, Skin, Eyes, Lips, Teeth, Hair, Figure, Height.

Beautiful? - Physical Features

• A practical and normative science.

• Based on reason.

• Which studies human acts.

• Provides norms for their goodness and badness.

Ethics

A systematized body of knowledge that is applicable to human action.

Practical Science

A systematized body of knowledge that provides guidelines, regulations or set of rules to maintain a sense of direction.

Normative Science

Should be reasonable.

Ethics is based on reason.

Voluntary. Actions done with full knowledge and full consent of the will.

2 Types of Actions that Man Elicits - Human Acts

Involuntary. Actions done without full knowledge of and without the consent of the will.

2 Types of Actions that Man Elicits - Acts of Man

Provides norms for the goodness and badness of a certain act:

Reward and Punishment

The Importance of Studying Ethics.

• To understand our nature: are we naturally good or are we naturally bad?

• To serve as a guide to develop certain qualities to attain real happiness.

• To give us direction – a sense of meaning and purpose.

• To understand different ethical principles so we can make a stand and make better decisions.

The science of right thinking. Ethics is the science of right living.

Ethics and Logic

Deals how man behaves. Ethics deals how man SHOULD behave.

Ethics and Psychology

Deals with social order. Ethics deals with moral order.

Ethics and Sociology

Deals with earning a living while providing one’s services in the society. Ethics deals with quality of service and decent way of living.

Ethics and Economics

Provides knowledge and skills. Ethics provides wisdom and character.

Ethics and Education

Deals with the external acts. Ethics deals with the internal acts: thoughts and desires.

Ethics and Law

Aims to appreciate the harmony of things. Ethics aims to obtain a harmony of people.

Ethics and Aesthetics

Aims towards attainment of good government. Ethics aims to train and maintain a good leader.

Ethics and Politics

Aims the attainment of man’s supreme purpose in fulfillment of one’s spiritual obligation. Ethics aims the attainment of man’s supreme purpose in fulfillment of one’s moral obligation.

Ethics and Religion

3 Moral Bases That Will Help One Uphold An Ethical Principle (Immanuel Kant)

• Human Freedom

• Immortality of the Soul

• Existence of God

Why Do We Have To Be Ethical?

We need to be ethical because our actions, rooted in ethical principles, create consequences. Ethical actions tend to lead to good and beneficial outcomes, while unethical actions often lead to bad and harmful ones.

Normative Ethics and Non-Normative Ethics fall in this category.

General Ethics

Special Ethics and Professional Ethics fall in this category.

Applied Ethics

The morality of an action depends on the morality of the person (agent) acting in a situation.

Moral Agent

An action can be: Considered acceptable by some.

Moral

An action can be: Considered unacceptable by others.

Immoral

(☆)

• Sometimes, a situation produces:

  • One good result and one evil result.

  • Choosing between two bad outcomes creates a dilemma.

(☆)

• Sometimes, a situation produces:

  • One good result and one evil result.

  • Choosing between two bad outcomes creates a dilemma.

• Comes from the Greek words:

  • δις (dis) — Means twice.

  • λέμμα (lémma) — Means assumptions or premises.

Dilemma

• A dilemma is a type of argument that combines two conditional (hypothetical) statements as its major premise.

• The importance of studying a dilemma lies in its rhetorical implication—it can persuade people because both choices seem unpleasant.

Logical Viewpoint

Two conditional “if…then” statements (the “horns of the dilemma”).

Major Premise

Shows you must choose one of the conditions.

Minor Premise

Shows that whichever alternative one chooses will have a negative result.

Conclusion

(☆)

• Example (Logical Viewpoint):

  • If I enroll, I’ll spend a lot of money.

  • If I don’t enroll, I won’t get a good job.

  • Either I enroll or not → either way, the outcome is unpleasant.

• Example (Logical Viewpoint):

  • If I enroll, I’ll spend a lot of money.

  • If I don’t enroll, I won’t get a good job.

  • Either I enroll or not → either way, the outcome is unpleasant.

Dilemmas happen when an agent is confused about what decision to make because there are several competing values that seem equally important.

Ethical Viewpoint

(☆)

• Example (Ethical Viewpoint): Ruben’s Case

  • Student Ruben failed due to absences.

  • If the teacher gives him a failing grade → it’s fair but prevents him from helping his family.

  • If the teacher gives him a passing grade → it helps him but is unfair to others.

  • The teacher’s decision will depend on his moral perspective.

(☆)

• Example (Ethical Viewpoint): Ruben’s Case

  • Student Ruben failed due to absences.

  • If the teacher gives him a failing grade → it’s fair but prevents him from helping his family.

  • If the teacher gives him a passing grade → it helps him but is unfair to others.

  • The teacher’s decision will depend on his moral perspective.

(☆) Dealing with Dilemmas

• A person realizes he is in a dilemma when he is bothered by a situation—feeling that a problem needs to be solved.

• Ethics must not only focus on knowledge, but on how to apply it in daily life.

• What matters is not just having a moral opinion, but taking moral action.

• A person is wise when he knows how to apply his knowledge in dilemmas—when he can tell one moral standard from another.

(☆) Dealing with Dilemmas

• A person realizes he is in a dilemma when he is bothered by a situation—feeling that a problem needs to be solved.

• Ethics must not only focus on knowledge, but on how to apply it in daily life.

• What matters is not just having a moral opinion, but taking moral action.

• A person is wise when he knows how to apply his knowledge in dilemmas—when he can tell one moral standard from another.

• Deal with matters that may seriously injure or benefit human beings.

• Must be preferred to other values, including self-interest.

Moral Standards

If an action benefits more people.

Morally Good

If it causes pain to more people.

Morally Evil

The pleasure or pain that actions cause.

Basis of Morality

(☆) An act is morally acceptable not because the majority says so, but because of the goodness it brings.

(☆) An act is morally acceptable not because the majority says so, but because of the goodness it brings.

Must discern right from wrong and be accountable for their actions.

Moral Agent

Depends on one’s moral formation and cultural beliefs.

Moral Accountability

(☆) Practicality and morality do not always go together.

(☆) Practicality and morality do not always go together.

Action is good if it promotes happiness for the greatest number.

Greatest Number Principle

Sources of Moral Influence